HOOD AND COLORADO.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 188, 11 August 1925, Page 12

HOOD AND COLORADO.

BRITISH AND U.S.A. GIANIS

COLORADO'S HEAVIER GUNS,

HOOD THE FASTER CRAFT.

Comparing the two famous battleships the H.M.s. Hood and the United States ship Colorado, a technical writer states that the side of armour of the Colorado is lOin, and the Hood's is-12in, backed by 2in high tension steel, which has an equivalent higher than 14in solid armour. In point of fact, there is very little difference in the thickness, and especially penetrability, of the side armour of the two ships. There is not the slightest doubt that the projectiles of each ship would penetrate the armour of the other except, perhaps, at the extreme range of 20 miles, which is practically the same for the guns of both ships. In tne latter conditions, it is probable that the projectile» will be clelk-cted to a considerable extent by the side armour of both ships, but on the other hand, they would become .increasingly dangerous because of the plunging effect on the decks, and neither ship could keep them out. The lOin guns of the Colorado are of 45-calibre. The loin guns of the Hood are of 42-calibre, and there is not a very great difference between the loin, and the lOin. gunß. The 31 to 32 knots of the Jlood gives her an enormous advantage over the Colorado with her 21 knots; it means that the former ship can choose her position in the battle, and when the sun is shining or any wind blowing this might easily

positions where the hot funnel gases would have an appreciable effect on the taking of range by the Colorado. These advantages of speed are in addition to those the Hood would possess in manoeuvring so as to present the smallest possible target and in altering course so as to confuse the range taking of her opponent. A comparison of the Honrt and the Colorado naturally raises the question of electric drive versus steam turbines. The Colorado and California classes and the Xew Mexico art; fitted with the electric drive. The liorse-power of all these ships ranges from 28,000 to 33,000. The horse-power of tha Hood, fitted witti geared turbines, is 150,000, and it is significant that the propellers of the latest United States cruisers are driven by geared turbines; the horse-power of these latter being approximately 90,000 to 100;000. There seems to be little doubt that future British cruisers will be fitted with geared turbines, as has been the practice hitherto. It has been stated that the fitting of "electric drive " in the United States ships was decided not entirely on the merits or otherwise of this type, but that powerful vested interests iiad an appreciable effect on the decision. It is known that the American machinery builders were having considerable' difficulties with the manufacture of the special gear wheels necessary for geared turbines, and at a time wlien they were being successfully produced in Great Britain. The astern turbine of the modern geared turbine is not cumbersome nottroublesome, but, is incorporated in the same casting as the ahead turbines in a very simple manner, and gives no trouble. In the Hood, the astern turbines develop about two-thirds the power of tile head engines, that is, 100,000 horse power, as against -iO.OOU horse power of the Colorado. The Hoorl would steam much faster astern than the Colorado, if such a procedure were